Women of the Waves

While sunning myself on the beach in Jamaica and drinking one of those sugary alcohol drinks with pineapples, I began reading a book I recently ordered from the Web titled "Surfing Women of the Waves." My day was beautiful. The sun was out and despite a cool evening yesterday, it had warmed to the upper 70s and was the perfect weather for sunning oneself. I could hear and see the waves coming up the shore. As I listened to the glorious sound, I read about the women who had helped shape surfing; those who had made it possible for a woman like me to think I could learn what was once a predominantly male sport. I read about the original Gidget, a woman named Kathy Kohner now Kathy Zuckerman, who, with her father, wrote the Gidget book based on many of her experiences. Needless to say, Gidget "took off," becoming a TV series and several movies. In fact, reruns of the old Gidget TV series was probably my first introduction to surfing. The book tells the stories of many inspirational women surfers; some who have died and some who still surf today. It mentions documentaries I must now try to find and tells about incredible places that I wouldn't mind visiting, not necessarily for me to surf since I doubt I'll learn everything I need to know during my week in March, but just to visit. Who knows, maybe I'll get so addicted to surfing that I can't stop doing it; maybe I'll ride the big waves in all the places I read about; or maybe I'll just ride them in my dreams.


"In their 1960s hit, "Surf City," Jan and Dean sang of this mythical place where 'they're either out surfing, or they got a party going.' Huntington Beach, generally understood to be the inspiration for the tune, has long been the epicenter of California surf culture."
"Surfing Women of the Waves"
p. 97

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore

So, I'm at my favorite local pub in Bacliff, the Bayview Duck, when one of the owners comes over to chat. She and the other owner -- her husband -- travel a lot, so it's quite entertaining to find out where they are going or where they have recently gone. She's excited about their next trip in April where they will cruise around the Galapagos Islands on a Celebrity cruise ship. Sounds like fun! While discussing the trip with her and drinking my beer, I mention that I will be going to Jamaica this weekend and to Nicaragua in March. She has a shocked look on her face and says, "Have you looked at the political stuff going on in Nicaragua?" She goes on to tell me that they had planned to go there last November, but canceled when they heard about protests in Managua. Although I read the newspaper and watch the evening news, I was unaware of anything going on in Nicaragua. While the thought of being caught up in some Nicaraguan revolution doesn't sound good to me, I definitely don't want to cancel my trip because of the possibility. I will have to monitor things more closely. She gave me the Web address of the Nicaraguan newspaper so that I could check things myself. I will have to do that. But to anyone who might be reading this, if you hear of a group of American women being held hostage in a hut in Nicaragua during March, be sure to call the state department.

On another note, I was able to swim a little later this morning because of the MLK holiday. All of us who swam today, though, did so in very cold water. The heater still is not working in the pool. However, after a couple of laps, it feels perfect to me. I'm not sure how much longer the heater will be out, but getting up at 4:40 to be at the pool by 5 a.m. can be hard enough without the water temperature adding to the discomfort. It would be much easier to stay home in bed. After all, there's no place like home...there's no place like home...there's no place like home.

Those who can, do, those who can’t…practice?

Cold mornings make it difficult to get out of bed, especially if you are getting out of bed to go swim. I dragged myself out of bed at 4:30 a.m. It was one of the coldest mornings we’ve had this year. I put on a swimsuit, bundled up with sweats, packed my work clothes/gear and headed to L.A. Fitness to get in a good 30-minute swim. After checking in and putting away my work/shower stuff in the dressing room, I notice the sign. “Pool heater is broken. Water is cold.” It’s on the door of the dressing room and on the door of the swimming area. Can I do this? Can I make myself get into a cold pool and attempt to swim laps? Or, should I just go to Starbucks and get my coffee now? I’m tempted. However, I notice that someone is already in the pool. Usually I’m there alone at 5 a.m., but, today, I watch as another swimmer brilliantly laps a lane. He’s too busy to notice my pathetic attempts, which is a good thing. I will say, however, that I swam from one end to the other today without having to stop a few feet short. Another swimmer joins us and the three of us silently work out in water. I tell the third swimmer later that she swam well. She liked hearing it. Maybe, someday, way off in the future, someone will say the same to me.

My morning became even more special at Starbucks after the swim. Upon driving through to get my drink, I’m told that the car ahead of me has paid for my muffin and coffee. This is not the first time it has happened to me. It made my day a good one and it wasn’t even 7 a.m. yet. Pay it forward? I definitely need to do so! After all, those of us who can, like me, should.